We’ are excited to share the final updates from the 2024 UMass DesignBuild project! This last week has been incredibly productive, as we wrap up the “8th Sister” for its future residents!

The weather did not treat us any better as we completed our final week of the Build. The heat and humidity has been relentless all summer and continued, so we pivoted to the 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM work schedule to beat the worst of the heat on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Despite the adversity!

On the Exterior: Siding Boards were completed, Siding Battens were installed, Horizontal Bleached Cedar Siding under the front porch, donated by East Branch Studio, was installed, and Brise Soleil Screening was prefinished.

On the Interior: Insulation was completed, Electrical and Mechanical odds and ends were wrapped up, Clay Plaster finish was applied to the Straw Bale Section (under the expert guidance of Mike DeSorgher of Yeoman DesignBuild) , and Hempcrete Insulation (under the tutelage of Tom Rossmassler of Hempstone) was demonstrated.

As this incredible journey came to an end, there is immense pride and gratitude for the hard work, dedication, and creativity demonstrated throughout the project. The “8th Sister,” designed and built in collaboration with OneHolyoke CDC, will soon help to provide affordable housing in Holyoke, showcasing how small homes can be comfortable, spacious, and beautiful.

Thank you for following this journey.

We hope you enjoyed reading about it as much as we enjoyed putting it together!